2/2: The Soviets pulled off a great switch. From the 1920s until the 1980s they infiltrated Western press, academic, and labor, but then they pivoted after Reagan and their buckling under Bush I to taking over the American Right, their staunchest foes/foils throughout the 20th century. The neoliberals gave them the best assists ever, too, by essentially giving up on Progressivism and Labour.
Everyone was warned, but no, "the Cold War is over!"
And here we are.